My dad has taught me about God's will for years but lately I have had to fight through what I believe again. It was not until I read this book that it all finally made sense. This book is guaranteed to revolutionize the way you view life. This is a must read for all Christians!!
Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen is one of the best books I have ever read!! Don't we all wonder "Does God have a perfect will for each Christian?" or "Can you be absolutely certain of God's specific will for your life?" These are not the right questions to be asking. And if we do not ask the right questions, we certainly will not get the right answers.
Garry Friesen examines the prevalent view on God's will today (one I too unknowingly have held myself despite knowing better) and provides a sound biblical alternative to the traditional teaching of how God guies us. He tackles the very practical issues of choosing a mate, picking a career, and much more in this fresh and liberating approach to decision making and the will of God.
Christians cherish a mythology that, along with their theology, shapes and directs their lives. Perhaps no myth more strongly influences us than our understanding of how to know the will of God...yet when we ask, "How can I know the will of God?" we may be raising a pagan question. In the ancient world kings and generals consulted the oracles to gain guidance from the gods for their plans. The oracles provided such direction by vague and illusive counsel, and worshippers could read into the enigmatic responses what their hunches told them to do. Convinced that their plans had the stamp of the gods, generals could lead their troops into battle with unfounded courage. By 300 B.C., however, the oracles had gone out of business. Too often they had led their devotees to staggering defeat.
If we ask, "How can I know the will of God?" we may be asking the wrong question. Scripture does not command us to find God's will for most of life's choices, nor do we have any passage instructing us on how it can be determined....Garry Friesen insists that we must change the question. Instead of wondering, "How do I find the will fo God?" a better question to pursue is "How do I make good decisions?" Answering that question stands as the central purpose of this book. The Bible does not provide a map for life, only a compass. But through this book you will discover how that compass can guide you over the bewildering terrain. - From the Foreword
Another quote: I am grateful for this model of theological writing that glorifies God and serves the church. It is a theology that is thoroughly rooted in the Word of God--ambitious in its scope, endeavoring to do justice to the whole counsel of Scripture, and responsible in its approach, eschewing simple proof-texts for careful exegesis. - Rachel Maxson
Garry presents that God's guidance according to the way of wisdom can be summarized in four simple statements:
1. Where God commands, we must obey.
2. Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose.
3. Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose.
4. When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust the sovereign God to work all the details together for good.
This 500+ page book is absolutely fascinating and absolutely worth your attention. Is it wise to go all your life hearing only one view on God's will? Take a look at this alternative and how it lines up with Scriptures. You may be in for quite a surprise.
Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen is one of the best books I have ever read!! Don't we all wonder "Does God have a perfect will for each Christian?" or "Can you be absolutely certain of God's specific will for your life?" These are not the right questions to be asking. And if we do not ask the right questions, we certainly will not get the right answers.
Garry Friesen examines the prevalent view on God's will today (one I too unknowingly have held myself despite knowing better) and provides a sound biblical alternative to the traditional teaching of how God guies us. He tackles the very practical issues of choosing a mate, picking a career, and much more in this fresh and liberating approach to decision making and the will of God.
Christians cherish a mythology that, along with their theology, shapes and directs their lives. Perhaps no myth more strongly influences us than our understanding of how to know the will of God...yet when we ask, "How can I know the will of God?" we may be raising a pagan question. In the ancient world kings and generals consulted the oracles to gain guidance from the gods for their plans. The oracles provided such direction by vague and illusive counsel, and worshippers could read into the enigmatic responses what their hunches told them to do. Convinced that their plans had the stamp of the gods, generals could lead their troops into battle with unfounded courage. By 300 B.C., however, the oracles had gone out of business. Too often they had led their devotees to staggering defeat.
If we ask, "How can I know the will of God?" we may be asking the wrong question. Scripture does not command us to find God's will for most of life's choices, nor do we have any passage instructing us on how it can be determined....Garry Friesen insists that we must change the question. Instead of wondering, "How do I find the will fo God?" a better question to pursue is "How do I make good decisions?" Answering that question stands as the central purpose of this book. The Bible does not provide a map for life, only a compass. But through this book you will discover how that compass can guide you over the bewildering terrain. - From the Foreword
Another quote: I am grateful for this model of theological writing that glorifies God and serves the church. It is a theology that is thoroughly rooted in the Word of God--ambitious in its scope, endeavoring to do justice to the whole counsel of Scripture, and responsible in its approach, eschewing simple proof-texts for careful exegesis. - Rachel Maxson
Garry presents that God's guidance according to the way of wisdom can be summarized in four simple statements:
1. Where God commands, we must obey.
2. Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose.
3. Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose.
4. When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust the sovereign God to work all the details together for good.
This 500+ page book is absolutely fascinating and absolutely worth your attention. Is it wise to go all your life hearing only one view on God's will? Take a look at this alternative and how it lines up with Scriptures. You may be in for quite a surprise.
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This comment is rather late in coming, but I just noticed that one of my favorite bloggers says something very similar about the will of God that you might find interesting.
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